KUALA LUMPUR: An investigation has been launched by the Ministry of Education (MoE) into a private college in Gambang, Pahang.
This came after eight culinary students at the college claimed that the institute had allegedly turned its backs on them, forcing them to rely on themselves to buy groceries in order to prepare a simple meal.
The group was reported to be left in dire straits since the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into place as a mean to flatten the curve of Covid-19 in the country.
On Tuesday, NST reported that the group including five female students aged between 18 and 22 have been relying on instant noodles and canned food. Some even get by from food provided by their neighbours.
A media liaison from the ministry’s Corporate and Communication department Nur Farhana Abdul Razak said that the department has received a report and would find out the truth.
“We will employ a team to investigate the matter and we will share the findings soon,” she said.
Nur Farhana also said that the ministry was working closely with Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia to gather food items as well as other daily necessities to be sent out to both private and public institutes of higher learning in the country.
“We’ve been sending out the items to all the colleges and universities. The items are then distributed accordingly by the students’ welfare department,” she said.
She added that students who were living in rental homes must register with their respective university or college, otherwise they would not receive the food packages.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad in her Facebook said that the ministry had sent out boxes of food and care packages to 128 institutes of higher learning, including polytechnics and community colleges since March 21.